How to Get Cat Poop Smells Out of Carpet: 11 Vet-Verified Quick & Easy Steps
Although cats groom themselves thoroughly and typically don't miss the litter box, accidents happen occasionally. Cat feces can sometimes be tricky to get out, especially if it has dried. If you need a solution, the good news is that it’s not too difficult and you probably already have all the necessary supplies.
However, if it's occurred repeatedly in the same spot, you might need a booster to eliminate the smell. We will go over an inexpensive cleaning method to remove the stain. If you need extra help, we'll discuss how to remove advanced stains, too. Let’s get down to it.
How to Effectively Clean Up Cat Messes, Odors & Stains
The first part of cat mess prevention is ensuring you are taking the time to properly clean any accidents - and that starts with investing in the right products! Of course, you'll want to opt for something safe first and foremost, to protect your feline's health, but secondly, you'll need a solution powerful enough to lift the toughest, stinkiest, most set-in stains. After careful consideration, we fell in love with one product and highly recommend it to all pet owners!
Our Favorite Enzyme Cleaner
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Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray |
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There are several reasons we can't get enough of the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray. It permanently removes the very worst smells and stains, it can be used on a multitude of surfaces and its neutral scented, meaning no odor masking! It comes in a generous 32-oz bottle and comes with 100% satisfaction guarantee. Learn more about this holy grail of a cleaner here!
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
How To Get Rid of Cat Poop Smell in Carpet in 11 Steps
1. Get Your Supplies
You won’t need many supplies to get started, but make sure to gather these supplies:
2. Try Not to Let it Dry on the Carpet
Put on your gloves before removing the waste. Cat poop can carry bacteria and parasites that can make people sick if accidentally ingested. Once you have all of your supplies ready and your gloves on—you’re good to go!
Try to get to it before it air dries (if you can). The longer the poop sets, the harder it is to remove. The quicker you find it, the more likely you’ll get most of the waste out by picking it up. Getting dried poop out of the carpet can be a little more challenging but still manageable.
3. Get Out as Much as Possible
Take a cloth or paper towel and pick out as much of the solid matter as possible. The more it’s ground into the carpet, the harder it is to remove. If you leave remnants, your cat can still smell that they’ve used this spot before. A repeat offense is much more likely.
4. Apply Cleaning Solution
You can make a simple solution with products you always have around. Use dish soap with no added bleach and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Place the mixture into a spray bottle or bowl. This might be something we'd recommend in a pinch but you will usually get much better results with a pet-friendly enzyme cleaner.
Try not to use any products with bleach. Bleach could stain your carpet, so you won’t want to risk a color change to the area. Also, bleach doesn’t get rid of cat odors.
5. Add the Solution to the Stain
You should gently pour, spray, or dab the solution over the spot, but try not to get any outside of the affected area. Let the solution settle into the spoiled spot for a few minutes so that it can loosen the poop.
6. Blot the Area
Blot up as much of the liquid as you can. You should see the remaining poop lift from the carpet.
7. Repeat Until the Carpet is Clean
Keep adding solution and blotting until your paper towel or rag is clear. No residue or matter should be left if the carpet is truly clean.
8. Rinse with Water
Once you’ve successfully removed the poop, rinse the area lightly with plain tap water to get the concoction out of the carpet. Blot the area once more with a dry cloth or paper towel.
9. Wait for the Area to Dry
Leave the area alone until it dries up. You can even speed up the process by taking a blow dryer to the wet portion.
10. Sprinkle Baking Soda on the Spot
Baking soda is a great neutralizer. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and allow it to sit for approximately 1 hour.
11. Vacuum
With a few passes, the vacuum will take up the existing baking soda. The area should be odor and debris-free.
Products for Difficult Odor
If your cat is making a habit of using your floor as a litter box, you might run into some residual odors. The good news is that they have products on the market that are specifically formulated to remove tough pet smells, including feces.
Some other products include:
- ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular levels to dissolve any pet mess you encounter and lift it away at the source.
- FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture, fabrics, and more. Whether it's urine, feces, vomit, or drool, you can erase all foul spots and smells!
- FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical fragrances to get the job done. We eradicate smells and stains, not just cover them up.
Final Thoughts: How to Get Poop Smell Out of Carpet
Cleaning up cat poop room on the carpet isn’t a task anyone wants to do, but accidents happen. Try to remove the poop before using a cleaner. If this is an ongoing issue, contact your vet. The issue may be related to a behavioral or physical issue.
Endless pet products are available that remove pet odors from carpet. Shop around to see if you find the miracle product you’re looking for.
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
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As a freelance dog writer and passionate pet enthusiast, Ashley Bates is pursuing studies in animal therapy. A mother to four human children and 23 animal companions, Ashley is dedicated to volunteering at shelters, advocating for animal rights, and rescuing animals in need. Her goal is to spread awareness, provide education, and offer entertainment about pets to reduce homelessness. Ashley's specialties include dogs and cats.
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